Love Light

‘Because you’re amazing just the way you are~’

Her melodious voice filled the otherwise empty room. She hummed to herself as she walked towards the grand piano, her fingers grazing the keys, lightly gathering the dust that accumulated through time.

Feeling nostalgia struck her, she pulled out the piano chair and sat herself comfortably. Still humming the same tune in her head, she flexed her arms, stretching her fingers in the process. After feeling all warmed up, she began to play.

***

‘Her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they’re not shining.~’

Never was there a more perfect song, he thought, as he slowly approached the pianist he came to know well. Almost too well for his liking, in fact… From her littlest habits, to her likes…And who likes her. All these, he knows. But what he doesn’t know, and what keeps bothering him was her eyes; how could such innocent looking eyes manage to make him stop his breath and his heart beat twice as fast?

It was curious. The way they sparkle under the moonlight. And how whenever their eyes made contact, he felt his thoughts, his mind, his soul-- were on display for her to see.  

He felt bare.

It was almost as good as her getting ‘curious’ over his composition AND even more when they held hands for the very first time.

With eyes that showed nothing short of adoration, he approached her. Slowly striding as she played the intro.

Not noticing the lone figure, and engulfed with her music, she unknowingly let herself go. The raw innocent girl in her most vulnerable state-- made his heart fill with the need to protect her. Unbeknownst, he too became too absorbed with the music(and her) that he started singing.

***
The basement piano room has long been abandoned. It was the only remaining room in the building that is untouched by the countless renovations and remodelling.

Rumours say a ghost resides it, so no one dared to touch the place. For months, a classical melody was heard, played repeatedly without stop until the of midnight.

But of course, she knew better. ‘The basement’ was their CEO’s late wife’s room. She, like her, was a Chopin enthusiast. She happened to drop by their practice sessions and saw her ‘50 Nodame Piano Pieces Collection book’-- they shared the room since then. (She only knew her barely a month.)

The piano room was usually filled with melancholy, and so, called for music that was as sombre as the dim lit room.

Today however, the room no longer felt devoid of light. Rather, it was filled with the soft moonlight and the shadows of the tree leaves outside was gently cascading as the air breezed passed; A far cry from the grief-stricken sanctuary it once was.

She felt free.

It was this morning that she finally let her guard down and reached out. After receiving so much, she was relieved that the night before, she decided to finish her preparations on more that being beautiful…

‘Seohyun-ah’
‘Weh-yo?’

‘Seo Joo Hyun’
She was caught off-guard. It felt intimate-- Not because it was her name that he called, but because it was him that called her.

…she smiled at the memory. She smiled of gratefulness and genuine happiness.

Now she knows why ‘events’ are called events. And why there are those who go the extra mile to do them. She did her best to prepare, and seeing him like it made her thought, ‘ Ah, is this the reason why people do it. Because there’s such joy in it.’

‘Don’t ever let go.’ she said finally.

***

Surprised by his presence, she looked up and held his gaze for what seemed forever; Neither talked nor moved. Countless greetings, icebreakers and questions were running through both of their minds. But neither did anything for a good few seconds.

After that overcoming the milestone that is hand-holding, one was afraid to pressure whilst the other was afraid to distinguish where to put the silver line that divides reality and make-believe.

He chose to go with his instincts and just ‘go with the flow.’ After all, he thought, he was here because of it.

His wife dropped her handkerchief whilst filming and followed her to give it back. Of course, he could have easily just given it on the next shooting date, but after the events that occurred, he felt that the massive wall used to separate them were no longer. They now walked the same pace, together-- hand in hand. He chuckled, realising, the thought resembled one of her songs.

But people can be illogical when in love, he thought.
And now you’re openly admitting love, reasoned the more free-spirited part of his conscience.

‘Her hair, Her hair falls perfectly with out her trying. She’s so beautiful--’ he paused, suddenly feeling his gut tighten. Or butterflies. A first for him-- Experiencing ‘butterflies’ at the mere gaze of a woman.

He sighed.

A lot of firsts has been happening in the last six months and he sometimes wonders-- would he experience the same, or feel the same if it was with a different girl? Rhetorical. Of course he wouldn’t.

Many times the same question also pops into her head. And each time her answer changed; By goguma votes, Yong seemed to be raking in more and more each time. She realised their awkward beginnings was a potato at best-- not yet sweet, but a potato nonetheless. She saw the sincerity in him and was impressed at how best he tried at making her feel at ease. So gradually, she became comfortable without the added pressure of acting ‘husband-wife’. And as if the most natural thing, they eventually took the roles, slowly but surely.

‘Oppa,’ she muttered. He smiled sheepishly as he walked towards her, pulling out something from his back pocket. ‘You dropped this.’
‘Ah, thanks.’ Why did he personally bring it here? And now? ‘But you could’ve just--’
‘Yeah,’ he paused, and thought whether he should say it, what the heck, here goes… ‘I wanted to see you.’

She felt her heart beating furiously against her sternum, pounding, as if wanting to get out. She wanted to say something as he stood there, staring right through her, as if he’s reading her like an awesome piece of literature; He stood there motionless, his eyes, unreadable. But her mind was blank. A couple of times she opened , hoping the words would just come out. But no.

Moments later, he turned his back on her with out a word, silently walked to the door…grabbed a chair just outside and placed it next to hers. She looked at him questioningly, following his movement like an umpire would a tennis ball. He then stood up the plastic chair, and reached out to the ceiling-- or the light bulb-- turning it slightly to the left then to the right. It’s no use, she thought, she’s tried it several times and even bought a new bulb to replace it, but it was a stubborn one. She eventually gave up, and now relying on the moonlight and the streetlights that shone into the room.

Then the unimaginable happened. He also gave up, gently pulled her blue handkerchief from her, and tied it around her eyes. ‘Oppa--’

No response.

Feeling slightly worried, she attempted to stand up, only to have his hands locked firmly on her shoulders. ‘Stay here, arrasso?’ Cheeky yong, she thought, slightly jumping as he ‘plugged’ something into her ears. Ah, headphones. What is he planning now? A familiar tune was on the headphones; she could not help but hum along.


***

Her heart skipped a beat as the back of his hand brushed by her cheek as he took off the handkerchief. She waited, half-expectant and a hundred percent nervous.

She opened her eyes to the most beautiful gesture anyone has done to her-- The room, usually empty, was now had one white wooden lantern on each corner of the room. And on top of the grand piano were candles formed in shape of a heart that surrounded a small cake, iced messily in white with two cake toppers-- a miniature yong and hyun…holding hands. Complete in wedding outfits.

He felt his heart almost burst with pride as she saw her smile gently at his masterpiece. Upon deciding that he will, indeed pursue her, he rushed of to the local convenience store, and bought ingredients. He had also managed to ‘persuade’ his dongsaengs into buying 4 white lanterns and 20 pieces of candles. He could not just let the day go on without him topping off her event. His pride was getting the better of him.

Or you just wanted to see her without all the restrictions.

Either way, he made up his mind. And when he does, he’s gonna give it all he’s got. He stood behind her, resisting the urge for a backhug, and placed his hands on her shoulders. ‘That’s me’ he said, pointing to the mini yong. His action, made her jump and her heart, skip a beat. He noticed this, inwardly loving it. He spun her round so he faced her, their faces only inches away.

<3

[my first ever gogumafic]